8 Best Apps For Surveys That Pay Real Money | My Debt Epiphany (2024)

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“Get paid to take surveys online!” I’ve seen this offer everywhere online and I’ve always wondered if apps for surveys really worked.

On one end, it seems too good to be true. On the other end, as an online entrepreneur, I know first-hand that there are many cool ways to make money online, regardless of your skill set.

When it comes to apps for surveys, sometimes you just have to get your hands dirty and start side-hustling.

So let’s talk about it.

Table of Contents

Can You Really Get Paid with Survey Apps?

Well, yes and no. Taking surveys as a side hustle is easy, effortless, and always free to sign up for. But, keep in mind that it’s not a get-rich-quick option. Heck, it’s not even a part-time job option in my opinion.

If you want to make more than a few dollars per week, you may need to look into different hustles. However, if you’re just looking for a low-effort way to earn money while watching TV, working out, or during a commute (via train or something similar), surveys are a great option!

Don’t get me wrong, if you can earn $40 or $50 per month from taking surveys online that’s great! This is money that can be used to cover a small household bill or purchase items you need in your home.

So let’s dive in and discuss some of the best apps for surveys that I’ve found online.

8 Best Apps For Surveys That Pay Real Money | My Debt Epiphany (1)

1. Opinion Outpost

Trust Pilot Rating: 3.3 Stars

Opinion Outpost is one of the apps for surveys that allows you to earn points. You can then redeem those points for gift cards with major retailers or PayPal credit.

It won’t make you much, but when I tested it, I was able to earn at least 15 points on the first day.

If you’re looking to receive PayPal credit, you’ll need to earn at least 100 points which will convert to $10. Some gift cards require fewer points to redeem, like 50 points for a $5 Amazon gift card.

Opinion Outpost also allows you the chance to enter to win a $10,000 quarterly sweepstakes. The odds of being selected are low, but you have nothing to lose, so feel free to enter!

Sign up for Opinion Outpost here

Related: Easy, Low-Effort Ways to Make Money

2. Pinecone Research

Trust Pilot Rating: 2.7 Stars

Pinecone Research is a personal favorite. The company has been in business for 18 years and offers 10-20 minute surveys that can pay up to $3 per survey. Plus, they don’t pre-screen survey-takers by asking them to answer certain questions to qualify for a survey.

You simply take the surveys and get paid out in cash after each one, so there’s no waiting around to reach a certain threshold. You can use the extra money for groceries, gas, or even debt payoff. Doesn’t matter, there are always more surveys to take!

In the last few years or so, the website has also added the ability to test certain products. These tests can typically pay out more but are a bit more competitive. But, if you like trying new things, it’s a great way to get free items and get paid for your time.

Sign up for Pinecone Research here

3. Swagbucks

Trust Pilot Rating: 4.3 Stars

Swagbucks is another one of my personal favorites. You can earn money on Swagbucks by doing a variety of things, but their surveys are always an easy option.

Most surveys take 10-20 minutes to complete, and you can earn an average of 75 Swagbucks.

In addition to the ways to earn via surveys, Swagbucks also offers more ways to earn some cash. The ways to obtain SB points are as follows:

  • Cashback for online shopping
  • Watching videos
  • Using grocery coupons
  • Taking part of polls
  • Playing games

If you earn 100 Swagbucks, it’s equivalent to $1. You can redeem Swagbucks for gift cards from popular retailers, restaurants, etc. I shop on Amazon often, so I like to redeem Swagbucks for Amazon gift cards. You can get your first gift card with as little as 300 Swagbucks.

Below, you can see an example of some of the survey offers I receive via Swagbucks.

8 Best Apps For Surveys That Pay Real Money | My Debt Epiphany (5)

Sign up for Swagbucks here

4. Toluna

Trust Pilot Rating: 4.0 Stars

Toluna is a survey site you might not have heard of, but it’s pretty great. You earn points right off the bat by taking surveys to fill out your profile and share more about yourself. There are 100-point ‘get to know you’ surveys about travel, internet usage, automotive, mobile device, etc. There are also surveys about lifestyle topics and food.

You can redeem points for gift cards starting at 30,000 points which converts to $10.

Sign up for Toluna here

5. Survey Junkie

Trust Pilot Rating: 4.3 Stars

Survey Junkie is another great site that you may like when comparing different apps for surveys. You get 25 points just for signing up and 50 points when you complete your profile. This can take as little as 3-5 minutes.

Survey Junkie sends surveys on a wide variety of topics depending on your experience and lifestyle. The average survey on this site ranges from 3 minutes to 20 minutes, and you can earn an average of 50-100 points per survey.

You can redeem your points for cash once your reach a $10 threshold. Every 100 points usually equal a dollar, so if you take a survey almost every day, you can redeem your earnings at least twice a month, maybe more.

Sign up for Survey Junkie here

6. Branded Surveys

Trust Pilot Rating: 4.2 Stars

Branded Surveys will pay you for completing online surveys and other tasks. The business was founded in 2012 under the name Mintvine and changed its name to Branded Surveys in 2017. Along with surveys, you can earn points by:

  • Daily polls
  • Survey and poll streaks
  • Referring friends

You can later exchange your points for cash or gift cards by completing surveys. If you have 100 points, this will be worth $1 because each point is worth one penny.

500 points is the lowest that can be redeemed (aka, $5). When you have earned enough points, you can obtain a free gift card from a selection of eateries and shops. You can also choose PayPal and bank transfers as well.

Sign up for Branded Surveys here

7. Mindswarms

Trust Pilot Rating: 2.9 Stars

Top brands in tech, advertising, retail, healthcare, entertainment, and other industries work with the market research company Mindswarms. As a tester and surveyor, you can create video surveys using your smartphone and test new products like websites. You get paid by Mindswarms through the brands they have partnerships with.

Once you create your profile, you’ll have to create a profile video and share your interests while verifying the quality of your audio and video. The next step is to watch for a survey opportunity to present itself. You will receive $50 from Mindswarms for each 10-question survey you complete. Within 24 hours, your payment will be delivered to you via PayPal.

Sign up for Mindswarms here

8. PrizeRebel

Trust Pilot Rating: 3.8 Stars

One of the major companies in the online paid survey and get-paid-to space is PrizeRebel. Since its creation in 2007, it has given out more than $25 million in incentives and has more than 12 million subscribers, according to its own statistics.

Before beginning a survey, you can check the amount you will receive once you complete it. There will also be a time estimate that will let you know how long the survey will take you to complete. Be aware that your profile and where you reside will determine the precise number of survey providers and opportunities available to you. You will therefore find more prospects in some places than others.

Each point is worth a penny, so 100 points equal $1. You can cash out once you’ve reached $2 for gift cards and $5 for PayPal or via bank deposit.

Sign up for PrizeRebel here

Getting Started With Apps For Surveys

Taking surveys online is a great way to earn a little extra money. No, you won’t earn hundreds or thousands of dollars, but you shouldn’t expect that.

If you’d like to get started with certain apps for surveys, here are a few things to keep in mind.

You Must Complete Your Profile

You can’t just sign up and expect to start earning money. You usually have to complete your profile and answer certain questions about yourself. This will help the survey company send you survey offers that are relevant to you. Some survey sites will pay you in points or cash to complete your profile, which is always a bonus.

You May Have To Prequalify For Surveys

Many survey sites require you to take a pre-survey to see if you’ll qualify for the paid survey opportunity. They do this to make sure someone who doesn’t have any pets is not answering a survey about being a dog owner.

You can also try Pinecone Research if you want to skip the pre-qualification process altogether.

Answer the Questions Honestly

This should go without being said, but don’t feel like you have to give a certain answer just to get more survey opportunities or earn more money. Taking surveys is supposed to be easy and painless, and you’re supposed to give your honest opinion.

Don’t waste time and energy giving conflicted responses that aren’t entirely true. Doing that will just spoil the whole experience and won’t help the company that is looking for honest feedback.

Best Strategy to Optimize Your Earnings

After going through this experience over the past few months and seeing a positive outcome, we’ve come up with a specific strategy that will allow you to optimize your earnings when taking surveys online.

Step 1: Sign up with a few different survey websites

Each survey site has its own pros and cons and different payment terms and thresholds. You can get more earning opportunities by signing up with 2-4 different survey websites to start.

That way, if one isn’t providing you with many options at the moment, you can focus your attention on another site.

Step 2: Check your email and follow up regularly

You won’t know about survey opportunities if you don’t check in on the website and check your email for opportunities regularly. Most survey sites send out opportunities daily, so it’s best to check in at least every other day to get more opportunities.

Step 3: Make the most of your spare time

Decide how much time you can dedicate to taking surveys each week. For example, if you dedicate just 2.5 hours per week, that could equal a few extra dollars each week to fill up your gas tank or treat yourself.

You don’t want to spend every waking hour looking for surveys, but maybe you can take one during your lunch break and another in the morning after breakfast instead of sitting at the table and looking at social media on your phone.

I don’t think anyone can say they don’t have any spare time because there are always moments throughout our day when we experience downtime or do something unproductive. Make the most of that time by taking surveys instead.

Apps For Surveys Won’t Make You Rich

As a final word, taking surveys online will NOT make you rich or result in you being able to quit your day job. It just doesn’t work like that, and I’ve never heard of anyone becoming a full-time survey taker. #sorrynotsorry

If anyone tells you otherwise or claims that you can earn thousands of dollars per month taking surveys, they’re lying. The only types of consumer research that pay out a significant amount of money include focus groups and panel studies, and perhaps I can talk about those in another post.

Taking surveys will provide you with extra money that you otherwise wouldn’t have made in a short amount of time. Which is nice! You should try to overdo it though, seeing as how you can spend an hour taking surveys and not even earn minimum wage in some cases.

Related:20 Ways to Make Extra Money Today

15 Side Income Ideas You Can Start (With No Special Skills)

All in all, if you’re looking for a super easy way to make extra money that you can use for one-off purchases, lunch or an outing with friends, or to help supplement a regular bill, online surveys can definitely help. Just don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

8 Best Apps For Surveys That Pay Real Money | My Debt Epiphany (11)

Have you ever heard of any of these survey websites or tried to earn money by taking surveys online?

Your Income is Abundant. Ready For Side Hustle Success?

There is lots of extra money to be made. Sign up for the free Side Hustle Success online workshop so you can learn how to find the right profitable side hustle for you.

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8 Best Apps For Surveys That Pay Real Money | My Debt Epiphany (2024)

FAQs

Which survey app pays the most? ›

Best online surveys for money in 2024
  • Swagbucks. Swagbucks is more focused on earning through shopping partners, but you can earn cash back in many different ways. ...
  • InboxDollars. ...
  • KashKick. ...
  • SurveyJunkie. ...
  • FreeCash.

Are there any legit paid survey sites? ›

Which paid survey sites are legitimate? Online surveys are a legitimate way for brands to get consumer feedback on their products and services. Some of the best survey sites include Branded Surveys, Toluna, Swagbucks, LifePoints, OnePoll, i-Say (IPSOS), InboxPounds, PopulusLive, Opinion Outpost and Valued Opinions.

Does Eureka actually pay you? ›

Eureka. According to Eureka, you can start earning right away, with 80% of new members earning $5 on the first day. Payout comes in the form of PayPal or gift cards to popular retailers.

Are those surveys that pay you real? ›

Online paid surveys are a legitimate business, as many different companies utilize them to conduct market research. However, amidst the many reputable online paid surveys, there are other survey sites that are actually sites created by scammers or cybercriminals.

Which survey pays instantly? ›

The Best Paid Online Survey Sites That Pay Instantly
Survey SiteWithdrawal ThresholdSign up
Ipsos i-Say$10Sign up here
Swagbucks$25Sign up here
Lifepoints$5Sign up here
Toluna$30Sign up here
6 more rows
Feb 7, 2024

Which app pays out the most money? ›

The top money-making apps include Swagbucks, Ibotta, Upside, Acorns and Capital One Shopping. Money-making apps are a popular way to earn extra spending money because the tasks require minimal effort and the payout is quick.

Who pays the most for online surveys? ›

Top 10 Highest Paying Online Surveys
  1. Branded Surveys. Known for its frequent, high-paying surveys (average $1-$3), Branded Surveys also boasts a loyalty program with increased earning potential.
  2. Prime Opinion. ...
  3. Prolific. ...
  4. Opinion Outpost. ...
  5. Survey Junkie. ...
  6. InboxDollars. ...
  7. MyPoints. ...
  8. KashKick.
Apr 2, 2024

How to make quick cash? ›

How to make money fast
  1. Test user experiences. ...
  2. Take surveys online. ...
  3. Sell stock photos. ...
  4. Sell other stuff you already own. ...
  5. Become a dog walker. ...
  6. Try pet sitting or animal care. ...
  7. Consider house sitting. ...
  8. Drive for a rideshare company.
Dec 13, 2023

How to get money within an hour? ›

Here are a few ways you can potentially earn extra cash in just one hour.
  1. Sell the old stuff. You know that old stuff you've got lying around, collecting dust? ...
  2. Share your opinion. ...
  3. Quick freelance tasks. ...
  4. Write away. ...
  5. Be a virtual assistant. ...
  6. Social media promotion. ...
  7. Food delivery. ...
  8. Package delivery.
Feb 23, 2024

Do any apps actually pay you? ›

Swagbucks is a well-known app that has paid out over $470 million to users over the last 10+ years. You can earn rewards for shopping online, answering surveys, playing games, and watching videos. A wide variety of gift cards and rewards are available.

Does survey spin pay real money? ›

Earn real cash the easy way. Survey Spin members have earned over $17 million, and a staggering 82% of new members earn $5 on their first day of downloading. How can you make money in Survey Spin: ‣ Surveys - Get paid cash for sharing your honest opinion with researchers.

How much does Survey Pop pay? ›

82% of new members earn $5 sent to their PayPal within the first day of downloading. Start earning free money today! Your first survey pays $1 in free cash. We offer instant cashouts to PayPal and 70+ gift cards.

Is inbox dollar legit? ›

InboxDollars is a legitimate way to make extra money online. It's been around for 20 years, and the company says it's paid its members more than $80 million since 2000. Like most survey sites, InboxDollars looks a little overwhelming at first, but it's a pretty simple way to boost your bank account.

Is SurveyCompare legit? ›

Yes, SurveyCompare is legit and helps you find to make money. It's an easy way to find the top survey sites all in one place. However, it doesn't pay you directly, and you can always sign up directly with the companies it recommends instead.

Are paid surveys a good idea? ›

Some people can make a hefty sum by taking surveys, but that isn't the norm. Don't expect to get rich quickly or replace your full-time income by taking paid surveys. For example, Survey Junkie says you can make up to $40 per month if you take three surveys every day. How quickly do you need the cash?

What is the highest paying paid survey? ›

Top 10 Highest Paying Online Surveys
  1. Branded Surveys. Known for its frequent, high-paying surveys (average $1-$3), Branded Surveys also boasts a loyalty program with increased earning potential.
  2. Prime Opinion. ...
  3. Prolific. ...
  4. Opinion Outpost. ...
  5. Survey Junkie. ...
  6. InboxDollars. ...
  7. MyPoints. ...
  8. KashKick.
Apr 2, 2024

What is the best survey company to make money? ›

Here are 20 companies that pay you for taking surveys:
  • Swagbucks. Swagbucks pays users to engage in online actions like taking surveys, watching media content, conducting internet searches and playing games. ...
  • Opinion Outpost. ...
  • Pinecone Research. ...
  • Ipsos i-Say. ...
  • MySurvey. ...
  • American Consumer Opinion. ...
  • Toluna. ...
  • Inbox Dollars.

Is top 5 paid surveys reliable? ›

Based on my experience, these top 5 paid Surveys are reputable and offer dependable opportunities to generate income by sharing your viewpoints. While they may not offer significant income, they can act as a convenient means to supplement your finances.

How much do Dave surveys pay? ›

With Surveys, Dave members earn by participating in brief market research surveys in their free time, from the comfort of their own homes, for which they receive varying amounts, up to $5 per survey.

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